Ink Empress Poet Ekphrasis

Notes About The Poem

My first ever collaboration with a souper, thank you Dilly Dally for the honor. Please have a look at the picture we've used, it is one that I've used also as a prompt on another platform and I had the privilege to do this with the very prolific poet Dilly Dally, was fun doing it and it was a very quick write. 

The Narcissist Who Saved Himself - Cynthia Howard - collaboration with Dilly Dally

nothing spoils this surface view ~ see me
crave attention, gift empty touch  
tonal mask veils flaws and vices  
face alter ego and kneel

to feed the shallow shadow that circles 
~ around gossamer tears of the grieving moon,  
as silenced streaks of tongue-twisted lines,  
undress a puddle of poisoned stars

pull force imperceptible, attraction
lost in blissful contemplation  
comatose until that last equation  
gravitational persuasion creating longing 

but will the lake that flows with fears  
thaw words tangled in golden chains?  
for I’ve drowned in liquified lies,  
drawing perfection from imperfect reflections

delve to the depths of my spun world  
peripheral interference dissipates in darkness  
only requirement is carved version of self
that steadies my hand and drags me in

sinking beneath Narcissus's polluted undertow
tainted oxygen leaves my expanding lungs 
hitting jagged rocks, spoiled skin shreds,
exposing a forgotten empath ~ salvation rises 

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Valsa George October 19, 2024 at 6:27 AM Wow... two versatile poets coming together. As we expect, a masterpiece is born here. Though your styles are different, here I find your styles melding into one. Dilly has been so adept at Ekphrasis. I used to read her poems avidly. Now with lack of time I read poems just to comment back. You may not be able to imagine how busy I am even at my age running a household and attending family functions. I know everyone is busy in his/her own way. As we cannot sieve or sift water from milk, your styles have blended together. "tonal mask veils flaws and vices" What a blatant truth!Self absorption is a weakness which prevents the ability to understand others or have meaningful social relationships. Towards the end I see liberation from that narcissitic mold.... "tainted oxygen leaves my expanding lungs hitting jagged rocks, spoiled skin shreds, exposing a forgotten empath ~ salvation rises" Compassion and empathy are cardinal virtues. Kudos to both of you. Into my FAVE Ink Empress October 19, 2024 at 11:03 AM Oh gosh sweet valsa you leave my heart full! I feel you, and appreciate every minute you spend on reading me and others too, thank you for being so sincere, so generous and kind and i am sure DD will appreciate your compliments too! Thank you so very much

Unseeking Seeker October 18, 2024 at 10:49 PM A delightful collaboration, enjoyed immensely :) Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 11:12 PM Dear seeker thnk u so very muchhh grateful always for your kind support

Karen Jones October 18, 2024 at 7:52 PM Amazing collaboration from two poetic goddesses! For you it’s a quick write lol but this form I couldn’t master! Bravo! I especially like “ but will the lake that flows with fears thaw words tangled in golden chains? for I’ve drowned in liquified lies, drawing perfection from imperfect reflections” Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 11:10 PM Awwn dear karen you are such a sweet soul! Thank you for your kind words and for pointing out your fave lines too. Grateful always

Andrea Dietrich October 18, 2024 at 7:44 PM Wow. Now I want to see the picture. Is it here and not showing up because I am on my phone? You two are naturals at collaborating Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 11:09 PM The picture is on dilly dallys profile and her post, i just couldnt figure out how to upload despite dd trying to explain , hah! I am so bad with technology! Gosh! Thank you sweet andrea

Duke Beaufort October 18, 2024 at 8:22 AM IE and DD, there is an element of hope here. I wish a certain politician here in the US would sit down with a therapist and go over this! It's not easy to deal with one's deep seated and excessive love of self. It's difficult for ordinary people to fathom how destructive this type of person can be to others. I have one of these in my family and speak from personal experience. Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 11:11 AM Your comment made me smile. I think certain narcissists especially politicians wont experience this. Haha thank you so much, i found this artwork a month ago and i was hooked and DD was perfect to write on this with . Always grateful for your support

Sara Kendrick October 18, 2024 at 3:08 AM Interesting painting that you chose to use. If for a contest, it reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. Falling in love with oneself is an interesting thing, but we all know that doesn't get us anywhere. LOL..We have to love ourselves to be able to love others, but we can take it too far. Thanks for sharing this work and the painting with us. Sara K Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 4:02 AM Thank you sara its not for a contest was a collaboration with dilly dally. Glad you liked it and enjoyed reading it. Appreciate your feedback always

Mystic Rose Rose October 17, 2024 at 7:02 PM You have both knitted a beautiful poem that meshes perfectly and creates a conclave of imagery to admire. Amazing what two talented poets can accomplish together :) Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:48 AM Thank you sweet rose i am always grateful to receive your support and kindness

Evelyn Judy Buehler October 17, 2024 at 5:31 PM Congratulations on such a beautifully crafted collaboration, Ink. I love, 'thaw words tangled in golden chains,' and so many others. Quite impressive! :) Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:47 AM Thank you dear evelyn im always happy to hear from you

I Am Anaya October 17, 2024 at 3:52 PM Hey Ink, I think I remember a collab with you and SO. Hah. This one priceless, first saw this on D's a very prolific poet indeed. You both are amazing. Faving! This stands alone even without the painting.:) Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:47 AM Awn thank you sweet anaya, read my comment to silent one haha that would explain about the collab point, you are an amazing soul tooo

Paige Hind October 17, 2024 at 1:15 PM I love "only requirement is carved version of self that steadies my hand and drags me in"- I love "tainted oxygen leaves my expanding lungs hitting jagged rocks, spoiled skin shreds," you both do well together....very raw writing Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:44 AM Awwn thank you dear sweet paige im grateful for your kindness always

John Read October 17, 2024 at 11:44 AM I couldn't find the picture, but still enjoyed reading your collaboration poem. Well done both of you. Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:44 AM Thank you so much dear John i appreciate your support always

Joseph May October 17, 2024 at 11:22 AM Very nicely done collaboration Ink and Di11y Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:44 AM Thank you so much dear Joseph

Tom Cunningham October 17, 2024 at 10:37 AM I managed to find the painting IE, you've both interpreted it so well, a seamless well composed collaboration. Well done both. Tom Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:41 AM Thank you dear Tom, means alot always your support, much appreciated

Silent One October 17, 2024 at 10:37 AM I thought I was the first souper to collab with the empress? Guess you don't see me as a souper...I sure know what it's like to drown in liquefied lies...I'm surrounded by those who betray through broken promises...you don't need an image here as both of you paint a masterpiece through the clever weaving of words that's merges two diverse styles of poetry.. I can just about make out who wrote which part, you both compliment each other really well..All the best Ink Empress October 18, 2024 at 12:43 AM Dear silent one, you were the first poet /person iv ever collaborated poetically with, and i didnt know what soup was altho you did mention all i thought of was chicken soup(the book) when you mentioned so i didnt think of you as a souper. You were the first islander (poets island) and instagrammer and more that i collaborated with. But i mean dilly dally is the first souper really i collaborated with. There are so many now writing on soup that iv collaborated with in the past. Hope that makes sense hah thank you for your comment

Sara Jama October 17, 2024 at 6:00 AM I love this collab Ink." to feed the shallow shadow that circles", I love the imagery in this line. "thaw words tangled in golden chains?", absolutely gorgeous. "peripheral interference dissipates in darkness," yes darkness can be so freeing and clarifying. And I think the poem ends brilliantly. Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 6:23 AM I know haha darkness yes is freeing. Did you write for this pic prompt on island too? I dont rmmbr seeing your name! Thank you i tried a lil hard for the ending! :D i heard a bird sing you jus posted too! Lemme see

Daniel Henry Rodgers October 17, 2024 at 5:12 AM Dear Empress and DD. What an outstanding collaboration showing self-perception, illusion, and the contrast between surface appearance and deeper truths. I love lines like "nothing spoils this surface view" and "tonal mask veils flaws and vices". You can tell when two great poets come together and eloquently grapple with the destructive nature of self-obsession. Which some really battle within themselves. The exciting conclusion brings the arc full circle as it artistically shows the transformation, with "exposing a forgotten empath ~ salvation rises", and yes, a journey from self-absorption to empathy and potential redemption. I also want to say it is so rich in metaphorical ink and often surreal, creating a dreamlike atmosphere for me. Excellent in all ways, metaphors, alliterations, oxymorons, and enjambments, which leads me to an FAV. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friends, Empress and DD, Daniel Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 6:47 AM Dear daniel, your generous comments always leave me filled with gratitude, yes it is very abstract and not easy to decipher but you always somehow analyse and can comprehend poems and thats an honour really. Thank you for supporting our collab and for the fave truly grateful!!

Beryl Edmonds October 17, 2024 at 3:33 AM A great Ekphrasis collaboration on the painting of ‘The Narcissist’ Ink and Dilly, you write together well. Love it! Beryl Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 6:57 AM Dear beryl, its so good to hear from you after such a long time, thank you so very much for your comment too. Grateful truly

David Kavanagh October 17, 2024 at 2:30 AM Heya Ink and Dilly, A profound reflection of Narcissus pining away at his alter ego, struggling against self gravitational persuasion, so many great poetic lines in this one, I’m certainly not going to guess who wrote which, in the end it doesn’t matter, the whole collaboration is seamless and thought provoking, a beautiful piece of raw expression by 2 top poets on PS, love it, cheers David Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 7:32 AM Dear David, this is such a kind and encouraging comment, it means alot, thank you so very much for not just visiting but also for understanding the artwork and how it inspired the poem. Dilly Dally is an amazing poet and she has an eye for little details, was exciting doing this collab with her. Iv read your work with her and you both write very well together too. Thank you so much again

Lioness Onpaper October 17, 2024 at 1:54 AM Ooo a wonderful collaboration…. nothing spoils this surface view.. love that opening line … lake that flows with fears thaw words tangled in golden chains? … love that line!! The depth in this piece is gorgeous!!! Wonderfully woven !!! Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 7:59 AM Thank you papi! Appreciate your supprt always! You should read some of DDs work you will love them

The Aura Rhymes October 17, 2024 at 1:26 AM What a beautiful collaboration. Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 7:59 AM Thank you dahlin

Robert James Liguori October 17, 2024 at 1:21 AM Your words blend so well together. Excellent collaboration!!! Ink Empress October 17, 2024 at 8:20 AM Thank you so much i was hoping our words would, appreciate always your support dear Robert.